Called LifeLines, the record contains exhaustive detail about the lives and health of more than 94,500 people who lived in the northern Netherlands from 1935 to 1967.

In this three-decade snapshot, the people who had the most children were tall men, and women of average height, the team found.

For example, the most fertile men were seven centimetres above the average height. Statistically, they had 0.24 more children on average than the least fertile men, who were about 14 centimetres below the average height.

Compared to counterparts in other countries where they often tended to have fewer children, taller women also reproduced more in the Netherlands.

Many postponed having children until after their studies, but once they forged a successful relationship, often had a large family.

The study did not involve genetic testing, but concluded from the observations that natural selection must have played a part: with time, more and more Dutch started sporting tall genes.

Tall, tallest, taller

"Height is very heritable -- taller parents tend to have somewhat taller children than shorter parents," says Stulp.

"Because taller individuals would have more offspring in the next generation who would be taller, the average height in that generation would a bit taller on average than the preceding generation, if all else is equal."

There seems to be a cultural preference as well.

Stulp points to figures showing that, in the United States, shorter women and men of average height have the most reproductive success.

"There is much variation in what men and women want," he said.

"When it comes to choosing a mate, height tends to have (only) a small effect, which is not very surprising given the many other, more important, traits people value in their mate."

How does Australia measure up?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average height of an Australian man is 175.6 centimetres, and the average Australian woman is 161.8 centimetres tall -- an increase of 0.8 centimetres and 0.4 centimetres since 1995.

In general, Australian males and females aged 75 or over are 8.1 centimetres shorter than ones aged 18-24 years.